Glastonbury Candidates For Town Council Identify Foremost Issues

GLASTONBURY — Town council candidates -- Republican, Democrat and C.J. Mozzochi -- came together in a debate Wednesday that proved as bare-knuckled as a mittens convention.

``There's a high degree of harmony here,'' moderator Gordon Allen said after Democrats and Republicans had agreed several times. The debate emerged instead as a sort of round table discussion in which the candidates identified the foremost issues of the day.

Even a potential source of conflict -- seating town government critic C.J. Mozzochi with officials he has sued -- was handled politely.

The debate was sponsored by the Glastonbury Chamber of Commerce and was televised live on Cox Communications. Only one candidate, veteran Councilman Charles Monaco, a Democrat, was unable to attend.

The 12 remaining candidates responded to questions from a media panel. On the Republican slate are challenger Marti Curtiss and incumbents Paul Nye, Kurt Cavanaugh, Judith Stearns, Joseph Broder and David Megaw.

The Democratic candidates who appeared were challengers Thomas McKee and Zelda Lessne and incumbents George Purtill, Chip Flanagan and Toni Dolan. Mozzochi petitioned to be on the ballot as unaffiliated candidate.

The candidates all shared a platform of supporting policies for Glastonbury's quality of life while being watchful of the tax burden.

Development of the town-owned Gateway Park, a largely vacant business parcel, was identified as one of the future's most critical issues.

``There's been an extraordinary amount of growth in town,'' Broder said. ``With growth comes children and the need for more schools . . . and the need for more services. Where's the money to come from? Gateway is the tax base of Glastonbury's future.''

When Mozzochi's candidacy was discussed, Mozzochi said he believed he could work in concert with other council members, despite two lawsuits he has filed against the town. Still, he said he would continue being critical of town government. By being privy to the inner workings of local government, he said, ``I will continue in my ways and even amplify them because I'll have more sources of information.''

But Purtill said Mozzochi's contentious past with the council would be disruptive. ``Frankly, as having been sued by Mr. Mozzochi, it would be uncomfortable,'' he said.